Ambassador Visits Florida to Promote Innovation

From April 25 to 26, Ambassador François Delattre traveled to Northern Florida in a dynamic visit that was marked by a series of events honoring French-American partnership in the field of innovation.

Ambassador Delattre toured the Jacksonville offices of the French-owned wind instrument manufacturer Buffet Crampon on April 25, before visiting the $200-million manufacturing plant of the French battery producer Saft.

Opened in 2011, the plant currently employs over 300 workers in the production of lithium-ion batteries common in electronics of all kinds.

In a visit on Thursday to Fort Caroline, the first French settlement in North America, established in 1564. Amb. Delattre paid tribute to the longstanding ties connecting the two countries.

He later honored those connections again in a ceremony in Tallahassee, where he recognized the sacrifices made by six American veterans who served on French soil during World War II. The men were awarded the Legion of Honor, France’s highest award.

The Ambassador also attended the launch of the Floridian French Caucus, a program led by state senator Anitere Flores and state representative Lake Ray. Modeled after the Congressional French Caucus based in Washington, DC, the group will work to enhance ties between France and Florida.

The following day, Amb. Delattre traveled to the University of Florida in Gainesville, where he was invited by the Provost Joe Glover to give a luncheon speech about France’s history of and commitment to innovation, especially through cooperation with American companies and institutions.

Amb. Delattre then delivered the commencement speech at the graduation ceremony for the University of Florida’s Graduate Schools in which he not only congratulated the students for their accomplishments, but invited them to reflect on how the knowledge they had acquired over the course of their studies could be applied to their future as citizens of our global community.